Charles l



c. L. BRALEY. NECKBAND EXPANDER FOR SHIRT P RESSES.

' v APPLICATION FILEQ DEC-8. 1916- 1,311,312.

Patented July 29, 1919.

[ZZZ/5222271". 2 Z6 THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAFH co. WASHINGTON. D. cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I1. BRALEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

NECKBAND-EXIPANDER FOR SHIRT-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. BRALEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Neckband-Ex= panders for Shirt-Presses, of which the following is a'specification.

This invention relates to neck band formers or supports and particularly to that class of such devices which are adjustable to fit and shape neck bands of various sizes and shapes.

Neck band formers heretofore, of the adjustable type, have usually been arranged so that a forward curved portion and rear foot portions move relatively to fit the various sizes of neckbands, but there has been a very decided objection to the use of these devices for stock shirt ironing purposes, for the reason that the neck bands of stock shirts increase in size more or less in all directions or in directions other than those provided for by the above mentioned device. Spring bands have also been used but these do not lend themselves very readily to adjustment to predetermined forms or shapes throughout the various sizes.

The present device, therefore, relates to a neck band former or expander wherein the forming or expanding element is made up of a plurality of portions or slides which are radially movable in all desired directions in adjustment of the former to various forms and shapes throughout the various sizes of neck bands and are actuated by a master cam so shaped that the several parts will be moved in the proper directions and to the required extent thus giving form and shape to the Various neck bands laced upon'the device according to the deslgn of the shirt maker.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth in the following description, drawings and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the neck band former with the parts in the expanded position; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a view of parts of the device on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the device shown in the drawings, 1 represents the base provided with a centrally disposed upwardly extending boss 2 which is provided with an opening, the wall of which is threaded. On the outside of this boss and on the upper face of the base is a, plurality of upwardly extending ribs 3 which extend radially from the center of the boss 2.

Slidably mounted on these ribs are slides or foot portions 4, the outer portions of which are so shaped that the entire contour or configuration is of the desired shape for the inside of the neck band when expanded. In the present instance, the neck band former as made up by the slides is of the the usual heart shape. Each of these slides or foot portions is provided with an opening 5 and these openings in the several slides receive a coiled spring or other flexible device 6 for drawing them all toward the center. Each of the slides is beveled at 7 to ward the center, so that they all form a conical or conoidal recess adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped cam 8. Each of the slides is provided with a recess 9 on its under side to receive a corresponding guide 3 on the base.

The cam 8 is formed at the edge of a flange 11, forming a part of a sleeve 12 slidably mounted on the boss 2. The normal tendency of the several slides is to move the entire cam member upward on the boss, and this action is counteracted by a screw 13 engaging in the opening in the boss and having a head flange 14: adapted to engage the sleeve 12 and force it down. A suitable hand-piece in the form of a cap 15 is secured to the head flange 14 by rivets 16 for manipulating the screw.

In order to prevent the rotation of the cam and to produce varying throws of the slides the central slide 4 at the back is provided with a pad 17 secured by screws 18 to hence the neck band former maybe made to adjust itself to any style or shape of neck band. This. same result may be accomplished by doing away with the pad 17, and varying the inclination of the slide as is readily obvious.

In use, the device is applied to a board in the usual manner, and a shirt is dressed upon the board with the neck band sur rounding the neck band former. The opera tor then turns the cap 15 and causes the screw to move down and the slides to move out until they engage and fit the neck band.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a neck band former, a base, a center boss thereon, a plurality of neck band former slides movable radially on said base, and means associated with said boss for moving said slides, comprising a cam, and means for raising and lowering said cam.

, 2. In a neck band former, a base, a center boss thereon, a plurality of neck band former slides movable radially on said base, and means associated with said boss for moving said slides, comprising a cam, and a screw for raising and lowering said cam.

' 3. In a neck band former, a base, a center boss thereon, a plurality of neck band former slides movable radially on aid base, and means associated with said boss for moving said slides, comprising a cam slidable on said boss, a screw threaded into said boss and having a flange engaging .aid cam,

and a hand-piece for operating said screw.

4:. In a neck band former, a base, a center boss thereon, a plurality of neck band former slides movable radially on said base, and spaced at intervals around the center, a spring extending completely around. said boss engaging all of said slides and tending to draw them toward the boss, and means associated with said boss for moving said slides outwardly.

5. In a neck band former, a base, a center boss thereon, a plurality of neck band former slides movable radially 011 said base, a spring engaging all of said slides and tending to draw them toward the boss, and means associated with said boss for moving said slides, comprising a cam, and means for raising and lowering said cam.

6. A neck band former comprising a plurality of neck band former slides movable in diametrical opposition, means for moving said slides, and means for varying the throw of one slide with respect to another.

7. In a neck band former, a body portion, a plurality of neck band former slides movably mounted with respect to the body portion, a cam for moving said slides radially with respect to said body portion, said cam having varying inclinations for producing varying throws to the slides, whereby the neck band former may adapt itself to any configuration of neck band. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES L. BRALEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

